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Cancer Awareness: The Facts About Pain Management
by Andrea Kenningsworth
http://www.lucancer.com
Besides the usual fears, the announcement that you or a
loved one has cancer creates a frightening and complex
situation concerning the pain the patient will suffer
during treatment. No one wants to suffer unduly, so this
pain has to be properly managed. The new field of pain
management becomes a very important part of the treatment
of a cancer patient. There are now medical specialists who
determine the most effective management in each case, and
there are many different approaches to pain management
today, so each plan is individualized.
It is now considered a misconception that having cancer
automatically means a great deal of pain in the treatment.
With today's pain management techniques, this has become a
complete fallacy. Before, people frequently felt they just
had to learn to deal with the pain, now no one needs to
adjust to pain any longer. Once a patient is open and
communicative about his pain, the team can find relief for
the patient. The patient needs to let the experts decide
which steps to take to alleviate the pain.
Your doctor will normally be very sensitive to your pain
and discomfort. However, if you or your loved one lets him
know about the need for pain control and your doctor does
not seem to have a solution, it is important to meet with
someone who specializes in the area of pain management.
Many times, an oncologist , a cancer treatment specialist
is also a member of a pain management team. Other medical
specialists that work in this area are anesthesiologists
and neurologists. An anesthesiologist has the expertise to
deal with pain management during surgery, and a neurologist
deals with the entire nervous system, the area of the body
that signals pain.
Pain management should be considered part of the entire
process of treating cancer patients. It should not be
considered a luxury. Neither should it only be introduced
when pain becomes completely unbearable. Dealing with pain
can actually hinder treatment, so your doctor will want to
be informed about any pain or discomfort as soon as it
The method of pain management may change over time, as the
pain lessens or increases, so it is very important to keep
your doctor informed about the pain. One should not be over
treated in this area, nor should one be under treated.
Once medication is prescribed that will address the pain,
don't feel as though you should have to be 'brave' and hold
off as long as possible between doses. Your doctor has
prescribed what he or she believes will be the appropriate
source of relief, and postponing your doses can cause the
pain to become more intense or, in some cases, encourage
you to increase the dosage in order to compensate for the
greater level of discomfort. The members of your medical
team will discuss the importance of taking the medication
when you're supposed to, and what the dosage should be.
Controlling the pain is easier when it begins than it is
after it intensifies.
If your concern is that you'll become addicted or immune to
the pain medication, or that the side effects will cause
you to change your behavior and lose control of yourself,
speak with your doctor. This isn't the case, and those who
work closely with your pain management know exactly what's
necessary without risking other areas of your health.
For more information about pain management, contact the
American Cancer Society or the National Cancer Institute.
Medical professionals are always on hand to assist you with
questions and concerns about all facets of the disease,
including the management of pain.
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